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Data show Korea district heating chief ranked last in screening before April appointment
En breve
Data obtained by opposition lawmaker Na Kyung-won’s office shows that Ha Dong-geun, appointed president of the Korea District Heating Corporation in April, ranked eighth of eight passing candidates in document screening and fifth in interviews. Ha is a Seongnam environmental activist who worked with President Lee Jae-myung and presidential aide Kim Hyun-ji in a civic group, and Kim officiated at his wedding, the reports say. The post pays about 243 million won a year including performance pay.
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Data obtained by the office of People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won shows that Ha Dong-geun, president of the Korea District Heating Corporation, received bottom-tier scores in both stages of the selection process before his April appointment. According to figures reported by the Seoul Economic Daily and the Dong-A Ilbo, Ha scored 85.8 points in document screening, eighth among the eight candidates who passed, and 81.42 points in the interview stage, fifth. The Chosun Ilbo reported separately that a person who had worked with President Lee Jae-myung and Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at the presidential office, in a civic group was appointed to head a climate and energy body despite lowest-tier scores and a background unrelated to the field. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
The Seoul Economic Daily and the Dong-A Ilbo reported that the corporation’s executive candidate recommendation committee advanced five final candidates, and that Ha was appointed president in April after the minister’s recommendation. The salary for the post is about 243 million won a year including performance pay, the two outlets reported, citing the data submitted by the corporation to the lawmaker’s office. [ 2 , 4 ]
Ha is an environmental activist from Seongnam who has headed the Pangyo Environmental Ecology Learning Center, served on Gyeonggi Province’s first investment review committee and chaired the Environmental Education Center, according to the two reports. They also state that he worked with President Lee and Kim Hyun-ji in Seongnam civic activities and that Kim officiated at his wedding. On that basis, the reports say, the opposition raises suspicions of favouritism toward the so-called “Seongnam line.” The Korea Economic Daily headlined the same wedding-officiant connection. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Seoul Economic Daily reported that Ha received no A grade from any interviewer in the category of knowledge and experience in the field, and that questions have been raised about whether an environmental campaigner is suited to head an energy institution. [ 2 ]
The same outlet reported a second case: Nam Gwang-woo, head of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, ranked third in document screening with 89 points and second in interviews with 84 points but was chosen over the competitor who placed first in each stage. Nam was the founding secretary-general of the Seongnam Citizens’ Gathering launched in 1995, when, the report says, Lee Jae-myung was executive chairman and Kim Hyun-ji was secretary. [ 2 ]
Por qué importa
The reports question how heads of state-run companies are selected and whether political ties weigh more than evaluation scores, adding to scrutiny of the presidential office’s personnel choices. The documents carry no official response to the disclosures and no indication that the appointment is under review.
Datos clave
- Ha Dong-geun was appointed president of the Korea District Heating Corporation in April, according to data the corporation submitted to the office of People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. [ 2 , 4 ]
- In the selection process Ha scored 85.8 points in document screening, eighth among the eight candidates who passed, and 81.42 points in the interview stage, fifth. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The president’s post at the Korea District Heating Corporation pays about 243 million won a year including performance pay. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ha is an environmental activist from Seongnam who has headed the Pangyo Environmental Ecology Learning Center, served on Gyeonggi Province’s first investment review committee and chaired the Environmental Education Center. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ha worked with President Lee Jae-myung and Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at the presidential office, in Seongnam civic activities, and Kim officiated at his wedding, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Chosun Ilbo reported that a person who worked with President Lee and the deputy chief of staff in a civic group was appointed to head a climate and energy institution despite bottom-tier document and interview scores and a background unrelated to the field. [ 1 ]
- No interviewer gave Ha an A grade in the category of knowledge and experience in the field, the Seoul Economic Daily reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- Ha Dong-geun was appointed president of the Korea District Heating Corporation in April. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He scored 85.8 points in document screening, eighth of eight passing candidates, and 81.42 points in the interview stage, fifth. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The position’s annual pay is about 243 million won including performance pay. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The figures came from data the Korea District Heating Corporation submitted to the office of People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Ha has ties to President Lee Jae-myung and to Kim Hyun-ji, first deputy chief of staff at the presidential office, from Seongnam civic activities, and Kim officiated at his wedding. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether the low evaluation scores affected the appointment decision or the process was improperly influenced. The documents report the scores and relay suspicions of favouritism raised by opposition lawmakers, but state no finding on whether the process was irregular.
- Any response from Ha Dong-geun, the Korea District Heating Corporation, the government or the presidential office. None of the documents carries a comment or denial from the people or institutions involved.
- The reported case of Nam Gwang-woo, named head of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute after ranking third in document screening and second in interviews. This appears in only one document, the Seoul Economic Daily, and is not corroborated by the other outlets.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- The Chosun Ilbo reports that a person tied to President Lee Jae-myung and deputy chief of staff Kim Hyun-ji was appointed to head a climate and energy institution despite bottom-tier scores. [ 1 ]
- The Seoul Economic Daily publishes the scores, salary and background of Ha Dong-geun and a second reported case involving Nam Gwang-woo. [ 2 ]
- The Korea Economic Daily headlines the same appointment and the wedding-officiant connection. [ 3 ]
- The Dong-A Ilbo reports the scores and pay, citing data from the Korea District Heating Corporation obtained by lawmaker Na Kyung-won’s office. [ 4 ]